Take a look at this article from Bloomberg News which summarizes some important findings culled from a gigantic research paper funded by the Bridgespan Group and the Pritzker Children’s Initiative. Read through the list carefully and remind yourselves why the work we do is so critical. Write down some of the statistics so the next time someone […]
One of our Early Math Counts readers requested the link to the Inchworms I wrote about recently. I went to Google and put in the search terms inchworm and manipulative and the first thing that popped up was a site that sells the Inchworms I was looking for as well as Centibugs – a new manipulative I […]
How can we make meaning for young children out of a holiday like “President’s Day”? Our youngest children have no idea (or very little ideas) about the Presidents, or what a holiday that celebrates them is about. Older preschoolers may know who our current president is, they may even be able to name him, but […]
Sounds ridiculous doesn’t it? However, this is how many educators are thinking about readiness; looking at workforce needs and moving backward playing the blame game. If college wasn’t able to prepare their students for the workforce, then it must be the fault of the high schools. If high school couldn’t do their job, it is because grade […]
The multicolored layers of puffy winter wear that are required to keep a small child warm during February in Illinois provide endless opportunities for exhausting trips outdoors. It often takes an equal amount of time to get everyone dressed as it does to actually be outside. Snow pants, zippers, scarves, gloves, hats, and coats require dexterity […]
This article from the New York Times describes how important it is to let children’s creativity flourish and reiterates what we know to be true about the development of children; we need to stop pushing one agenda over another and let children grow up to be who they are meant to be. Creative children who […]
I am married to a snow guy. He loves the snow. He loves the cold. He loves the short grey days and the anticipation of a huge winter storm. I am the exact opposite. I find the winter very hard and unpleasant. The cold enters my bones somewhere around the new year and doesn’t exit […]
On Friday, Early Math Counts presented at the Opening Minds conference in Chicago. We spoke about the Early Math Counts site and our upcoming Professional Development series, soon to be available through the Gateways to Opportunity ilearning system.(More to come about that exciting project over the next couple of weeks). At the end of our […]
Do you remember the day you were told that each and every snowflake in the entire world is unique and that no two snowflakes are alike? The idea of infinite possibilities still rattles my brain. How can each of the billions and billions of snowflakes be unique? Spatial awareness or concepts about space and shape, are […]
What can young children learn about Dr. Martin Luther King that is both appropriate and accurate? How can we use the anniversary of his birthday as a “teachable moment?” I think we can begin with the notion of “a great man.” Dr. King was a great man. What does that mean? Ask the children if they […]